Game apparatus



(No Model.)

AU EX A. P. A. VOGELSANG.

GAME APPARATUS.

Patented Feb. 16, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. F. ALEXANDER VOGELSAXG, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENXSYLVAXIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

EPEGIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,179, dated February16,1886.

Application filed November 2), 1894.

To all whom, it may concern.-

ie it known that l, A. F. ALEXANDER Voonnsiis'o. of the city and countyof Philadelphia. and State of lei'insylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Game Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has reference to games; and it consists in certainimprovementsin the construction of apparatus, which are fully set forthin the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.which form part thereof.

Herctot'ore a game has been played on board of steamships bypassengcrstravelingbctwecu various countries, which consisted inchalking upon the deck a geometrical figure divided into subdivisions,in which figures or numbers were marked, and toward which, from a givendistance, circular pieces or disks of wood were pushed by a suitablecue, with the pnrposein vicwot' lodging said disks of wood within one ofthe subdivisions of the geometrical figure,

or with the intention of displacing an oppo- Serial No. 143,578. (Nomodel exclusive of the cues, and in which U (J are the side rails, andmay be formed of two or more sections hinged together, asat B, so thatthey may be condensed or collapsed, asshown in Fig. 1

C are the end bars or rollers, to which the Smooth floor of oil-cloth orother material is secured. These rollers arc grooved, as at C, toreceive the end of the oil-cloth, which is placed therein and a tape. 0.nailed over it by nails 1 so that when the cloth floor D is rolled up onone of the rollers C it will lie smooth. The ends of the side rails arepro vided with dowelpins c. 'hi(-h cuter holes in the said end bars orrol|crs,as shown, and after the said side rails have been fixed inposition the act of pressing them down tlat. stretches the Hour l), andthe lateral edges thereof are kept down by the said rails U. The siderails may be made in any other desired manner, and may be connected tothe end bars, 0, by locks, bolts, or any of the wellknown catches inpublic use.

The floor D is preferably made of smooth llexible oilcloth, on accountof cheapness;

but it may be made of any other substance The object of my invention isto reduecthe said game to a tangible shape in the form of suitableportable apparatus, capable of being used in dwellings or anywherewithout the necessity of tirst finding-a smooth surface upon which toplay.

My object is also to provide the board or playing-surface with two setsof geometrical figures, so that the game may be played from eithercndalternately, thereby overcoming the necessity of carrying the disks orblocks back to one end each time.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved portablegame apparatus laid out on the floor. Fig. 2 is a sectionalclevation onlineX X, showingthenicth- 0d of attachment of theoil cloth andside railsto end bars. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the side rails removedand closed t'ortransportation. Fig. 4 isapcrspective view of one of thecues and sliding blocks or disks. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of thepacking-case, and Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of one of the slidingblocks.

A represents the apparatus as an entirety,

as, for instance, pupcror tracingdinen. Each end of the floor D ispreferably provided with a geometrical figure, E, of any desired shape,that shown being perhaps the best suited to the purpose, it beingdivided into two parts, and one of which is again subdivided into twelveparts or squares, in which figures or numbers are placed, as shown; andthe other main division,which is arranged on the inner sidcofthefiguredsmarked 100d. This figure E might be a star, shield, square, or circle,and there may be more than one division marked for reducing the score,should the players blocks lodge therein. \Vhcntheside rails are removedand closed, they tit in the space marked 1 of box or case P, and thefloor D is rolled upon one of the rollers or bars C and placed in theother part, (marked 1X5.)

The one is formed of a long handle, L, having secured on its end acrescent. or other shaped sliding piece, L", set at an angle to the oneand adapted to receive the sliding block M, which tits in the recess lin said piece L. This sliding block maybe ofwood, metal,

KOO

or part of each, and is made tlat and smooth on the bottonuandpreferably rounded on the tops, which are suitably colored or marked. Bythis means a better tinish is given, and the ornamentation ordistinguishing features between the blocks cannot become worn ofi'.These sliding blocks may he slightly recessed on their hottoms. so thatthe cdgcs may be more readily and truly made level or tlat, as shownatm,and,ifdcsireththey may be weighted with metal, as shown at M of Fig.6,which figure also shows one of the blocks as sentispherical.

In playing the game the sliding lllOChS M are plat-ed on a given line inone figure E, and pushed with the cue L so as to lodge in one of thesquares in the other figure E, it being the object to have them enterinto the squares having the highest numbers. The opponent endeavors todislodge the blocks of the liistplayer and place his blocks so as tocount. If they enter the division marked 10 off, the player loses tenpoints for each block there lodged.

No two games are alike, and the game therefore offers as much variety asbilliards.

After all of the blocks M have been pushed to one end the players walkto that end and play to the other end, instead of picking up the blocksand carrying them back.

From the t'orcgoing it is seen that the game is reduced to a practicalform for house use, and, being made portable, is admirably adapted tothe use of tourists and those going away to summer resorts.

While lpretcr the construction shown, I. do not limit myself to thedetails thereof, as they may he modified in v arious ways withoutdepatting from my invention.

Iain aware of the patent to Sargent for an extension table, No. 25,529,and claim noth ing therein set forth or shown.

2. The combination of the smooth flexihle game surl'ace D with endrollers or bars, 0'. and adjustable side rails or st rctchcrs. L,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the smooth tlexihc game-surface D with end rollersor bars, C. and adjustable side rails or st retchcrs, C. formed insectionshingedtogethersuhstantiall asand for the purpose specified.

4. A smooth polished game-surface having a geometrical figure markedthereon at omor both ends, and which figure consists of two maindivisions. one ot which is subdivided in to adjacent divisions separatedby lines only. and the said divisions having figures of differentmagnitude marked thereon, and the other ofwhich is marked with the wordofi'fl' or its equivalent, and a figure of any desired magnitude,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention 1 hereunto set my hand.

.l. l. ALEXANUER YOGELSANU.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM C. llIAYNl-i, R. M. HUNTER.

